In responses to a previous post I realized that I was getting a bit down on our Constitution and its framers without providing an explanation as to where I am coming from on these things.
First off, all apologies to the long dead and gone founding fathers/framers of the constitution. From a perspective that has seen two centuries of rapid progress it is all too easy to judge their antiquated ways. And I do judge them. I judge them because they don't seem to be all that different from their modern counterparts. That said...
The United States government is and always has been pro-business. While the fighting of the American Revolution was carried out primarily by the average citizenry, just like it is today, those folks were left out of the process setting up the government that replaced the old government. It was created by the business class to protect the business class. Initially this meant protecting them from the horrible monopoly business practices of the old world that held total power over global colonies through exclusive rights granted by kings and queens. Once freed from the old way of old money, they continued to develop policies that allowed them the freedom to grab up the resources of their new homeland. They looted and pillaged their way across the country. They would deliberately pick fights to justify military operations that would expand their holdings. I know such things are not taught in our schools as part of American history. A little independent research (because we are all about independence in America) will reveal just how ruthless this country was in the pursuit of resources and the inherent cronyism when distributing new holdings.
Luckily the system is flexible enough to allow 'the people', the vast majority, just enough say to get thrown a bone here and there. Again, the system is and always has been stacked in favor of business. One of the things business really likes is stability and predictability. If things get too turbulent, if the people are on the verge of taking to the streets, the system will see fit to give them just enough of what they want or need to keep the system stabilized. It may cut into the massive profits of the richest 10% who control nearly 3/4 of the wealth, but it beats the hell out of a revolution where their heads end up on pikes in front of their former mansions. When the people realized their own strength, formed unions, shut down factories, and could no longer even be stopped by the state militias (or sometimes even the US Army) who were sent in fully armed to break up the strikes, concessions were made. Unions were granted legitimacy as long as they promised not to have sit-in strikes (which ruined production by managers and scabs) and wouldn't call general strikes (which shut down entire cities). The nation outlawed slavery but didn't insist on equality for a century.
Back to the title of this post. I have often heard people say that if you don't like this country then get out. Sounds easy enough. But I don't have a problem with America. Do I love America? Let's see, there are many times when I find myself saying, "Damn I love Portland!" It is nearly always in response to the people around me and their actions. If you believe America is made up of the people that inhabit it, then I guess, over all, I love America. As crazy and fucked up dysfunctional as this place is, bless their hearts, I love America. It's hard to imagine any other place even half this insane and I love wild insanity. I love America.
My problem is with government. The very nature of governing, be it by elected officials or by divine right, leads to restriction. Restrictions can have positive effects. It's hard to argue against a law prohibiting people from driving in the left lane. Even without such a law a society would find itself voluntarily submitting to such a restriction in the interests of self preservation. Until the motor vehicle started to proliferate there was no need for such regulations. There are choices to be made along the way. Do you allow the states the freedom of choosing their own traffic laws or allow free movement from state to state by regulating traffic at a federal level?* To govern it in any way impedes on liberty.
That is what government does. It can not grant or guarantee liberty, only restrict things. We are born with all the liberty we can take. As a newborn that is practically none and must depend on those around us. If you are born into wealth you will enjoy freedoms unknown to those whose lineage is less glamorous. Americans can buy a hell of a lot of liberty. Lack of money does not preclude others from pursuing and even obtaining liberties. Not by the grace of the Constitution or its framers, but by tooth and nail, blood and sweat, in spite of every obstacle thrown up in front of them.
The American Revolution did not set us free any more than the founding fathers did. As long as there is one among us who is held down and told, 'NO!' there is not one of us who is free. This all started here because of the health care debate America is currently having. Nobody chooses to get sick**. Nobody chooses to be born. These things just happen. There are those who truly believe in "We the people..." and believe in government of, by, and for the people. For those people, which is more important; taking a step towards improving the life and liberty of 90% of the American people or securing the profits of 10%?***
I have no real answer here. Forcing people to pay for insurance, face fines for non-compliance, or be taxed for a universal health plan sounds like theft. Denying the sick medical treatment sounds like murder****. Americans can either be victims of one crime or accomplices in the other.
* Uniform traffic laws became a priority in the 1920's. Eventually there was a set of federal regulations decided upon and states could expand upon those as they saw fit.
** Some people engage in risky behavior like drinking, smoking, and unprotected sex. They are making choices that put their health at risk. Such activities can lead to disease, cancer, and babies. Personally I've done all three simultaneously and safely. Again, nobody chooses to get sick.
*** For all the rhetoric of the framers of the Constitution, historical evidence suggests the majority of them would have chosen the latter, just as our modern politicians seem to do.
**** If there really are death panels it will be those who deny health care to their fellow citizens based on prejudices towards people's monetary status.
Sorry for the rambling post. I'm still fisting the American Dream.
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5 comments:
Very good points. Government does not grant us liberty.
The healthcare debate is very sticky. While we have billions for foreign aid, many of our fellow citizens go sick and untreated, or go bankrupt paying for it. On the other hand it's extremely distasteful to feel like we're being robbed, again, by the government. For example my union contract gets me healthcare. I pay about $400 a month for it and have co-pays, deductables, etc that go up every year. Often my health insurance cost increases eat up all or most of any raise I get. Then Obama comes along and they want to tax me at 18% for the portion my employer pays in as if it's my income. In other words, I'll be punished for already having healthcare I can barely afford. Why, again, must the over burdened middle class take it in the shorts? We had money to bail out banks, corporations and auto makers(wrongly). Why not just cut foreign aid and reimburse hospitals and doctors for care they provide that the poor can't afford. Why take more from the over taxed?
In my opinion, the middle class isn't exactly over taxed. I only say that because when politicians throw out the term middle class, they are talking about people who make at least $150,000 a year. The rest of us (just about everyone I know) are working class and are considered second class citizens.
That said, the middle class, the working class and even the bum under the bridge have much more in common with each other than any of us do with the wealthy business owners and CEO's who government policies routinely favor. And why would politicians make their friends pay for everyone's health care after they helped them rob us of the money to pay for it in the first place?
Bottom line in my humble opinion. Don't raise my taxes or take more from me as a "fee." Cut foreign aid and reimburse hospitals and doctors for money they haven't been paid by those without insurance.
Maybe this isn't the post for this, but I'm fed up with the constant debates, arguments, lies and childish behavior. What the fuck is congress even being paid to do? It's disgusting what our supposed "great nation" is going through. As before, the rest of the world is laughing at us.
I just spent several months in Canada, and gas is about $1/liter on average (at least on the atlantic coast), roughly, which is about .26 of a gallon it seems. food is ridiculously expensive, at least until the local harvest comes in. certain food and items are taxed more than others due to the their "gst" or "hst" or whatever the fuck they call it. Yes, they have healthcare, and it's very nice most of the time, but it's not perfect, and their current prime minister is doing everything he can to cut benefits for citizens, including native americans, lower/middle class and has frequently been referenced as "bush junior."
the bastards charge you over six bucks for a case of water and tack it on as a "redemption fee." recycling isn't an option, it's mandatory if you don't want to lose money. sure, thats a good thought, but hey, maybe i don't want my car to be full of water bottles while i'm on a road trip till i can make it to a reclaimation center. plastic bags at grocery stores are 5 cents a piece. not much, but to stop charging you, you have to buy their "reusable" bags for a few bucks.
my point to all this... while driving through the US again i hear several radio shows with canadian callers saying that nationwide health care for us will make prices skyrocket like theirs, gas shoot up to at least over $4/gallon all over the country and basically lead to total chaos. this was also in states with about 6 fundamentalist christian radio stations. but i guess that part is for another post entirely...
the northeastern states may be full of worthless trash, but the worst driver between the mississippi and the atlantic are in ohio.
I have a Canadian co-worker who says when she was younger and you needed healthcare you simply went to the doctor and it was all cared for. Now it's different, co-pays for doctor visits and prescriptions and no more free ride you pay a protion of all bills in addition to all of the super high taxes to pay for it. Sounds like US care only the premium comes out of your paycheck whether you like it or not. At least we have a choice of providers or even none. Most states like Minnesota already have low cost health care available to the public based on a sliding fee.
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